Apparatus for broaching tractor links



' E. F. LONGENBACK APPARATUS FOR BROACHING TRACTOR LINKS Nov. 3, 1931.

Filed Aug. 10, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 3, 1931. E. F. LONGENBACK 0,

APPARATUS FOR BROACHING TRACTOR LINKS FiledAug. 10, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 w l iw .vlllllllllJlllll Nov. 3, 1931.

E. F. LONGENBACK APPARATUS FOR BROACHING TRACTOR LINKS Filed Aug. 10, 1929 3 Sheets -sheet 3 5' In ml 59 l; I I 1 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 OFFICE EDWIN F. LONGENBACK, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T AMERICAN MANGANESE STEEL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO MAINE HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF APPARATUS FOR BROACHING TRACTOR LINKS Application filed August 10, 1929. Serial No. 385,034.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for broaching tractor links, and more particularly to apparatus for positioning and holding the tractor link while the operation of breaching is carried out.

It is the purpose of the invention to provide an improved fixture on which the tractor links may be placed and to automatically cause the actuation of successive holding members by the application of fluid pressure.

It is further the purpose of the present invention to provide apparatus for holding the tractor link securely in place during the broaching operation by successively carrying out the steps of inserting a centering pin through one end of the link, bringing a bracing member into engagement with the side of the link, causing actuation of'a top bracing member to prevent upward movement, and finally securely holding the end of the link which is to be broached by members bodily movable into engagement with the inner surfaces of the link knuckles.

It is further'an additional purpose of the present improvements to provide fluid connections whereby upon the manual operation of a single control valve, the successive actuation of the various holding members is automatically carried out. 7 Further and additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent and the scope of the invention may be ascertained by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the attached drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings z- Figure 1 is a plan view of the entire apparatus, portions of the piping connections being diagrammatically shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, the fluid piping being eliminated;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken through the apparatus shown in Fig ure 1 on the plane indicated by 3-3 in Figure 1' Figure 4 is a detail view, looking from the plane L4 in F igure 3, of a portion of the apparatus for bracing the tractor link knuckles which are to be broached; and

Figure 5 is a detail taken on the plane section of the portion of the apparatus illustratedin Figure 4:, indicated by 5-5 in Figure 3.

The present invention is concerned with the development of apparatus whereby a tractor link may be readily placed in position and securely held against movement while a breaching tool is forced through knuckle bearings at one end of the tractor link in order to bring the bearingsurfaces to the correct size and alignment for the reception of link bushings and pins. The apparatus must be so designed that each link may be quickly placed in correct position and held against movement without attention from the operator in order that there maybe high speed in the output of finished links. I

The apparatus includes a main table which may be supported in the manner in dicated by the brackets 11 and the supporting rods 12, 12. Plates 13 may. be held by the bolts'14 to the brackets 11 and drawn into engagement with the lower surfaces of the supporting rods 12 whereby the table is rigidly held in position. At the rear portion of the upper surface of the table, there are provided upwardly projecting cars 15 at one side and upwardly projecting cars 16 at another side of the table. Each of the pairs of ears are spaced to receive the knuckles of a tractor link. The tractor link is designated 17 and is shown in dotted lines in the various figures. The ears 15 and 16 are formed with axially aligned openings 18 whereby a locating pin 19 may be passed through the ears and through the bearings of the link knuckles in order to center the tractor link in correct position. o

The apparatus is designed for carrying out a broaching operation on the forward knuckles of the tractor link. Another fixture can also be designed whereby the tractor link may be reversed in position in order that the opposite ends may be broached.

The forward knuckles of the tractor link rest" upon a rocking support 20 which is V connections causing actuation ofthe various holding members are arranged in the actual apparatus in any convenient manner whereby the length of the various pipe lines will be as short as possible and will not interfere with the operator.

In Figure 1, the pipe lines have been diagrammatically illustrated in order to render the operation more clearly apparent. The lever 22 actuates a main valve 23. This is connected to a pipe line 24 having included therein a T-head 25 to which there is attached the.-main fluid supply line 26. The fluid 1 sun lv ma com rise air ressure althou h other fluids may be-used instead of air. Connected to another side of the valve 23 is a pipe line 27 which serves to operate a portion of the apparatus, and in addition there is connectedto the valve 23- a pipe line 28. The pipe line 28 extends to one end of a cylinder 29 which'is mounted upon extension 30 of themain table 10. The pipe line 27 communicates with the opposite endof the L 'cvlinder 29- and upon actuation of the valve 23 is opened to exhaust through the line 31 which is connected to thevalve 23. Thus the actuation of the valve admits air pressure in the line 24 to the line 28 and opens the line 27 to exhaust through the line 31. The air pressure applied to the cylinder 29 operates a piston 32 which is slidable in the cylinder 29 and causes its movement to the left; as in Figure 1.- a

The piston 32 is connected to a rod 33 which is attached at its opposite end tothe locating pin 19 whereby the actuation of the piston 32 will force the locating pin 19 through the ears 16 and 1 5 and through the knuckles of the tractor link. Then the piston 32 reaches the end of its stroke, it uncovers a port in the wall of the cylinder 29, to which is attached the pipe line 34 which extends to a valve 35. -The valve 35 is actuated at the same time as the valve 23 by provid ng a beveled gear 36 which moves with the valve lever 22 and meshes with the beveled gear'37 secured to the valve 35'. The pressure is therefore transmitted through the valve 35 to a pipe line connection 38 extending to a four-way connection 39; From the four-way connection 39 extend three pipe lines 40, 41 and 42. A reducing valve 1s mserted in each of the p 3e lines thus there are provided valves 43, 44 and 45-. Each: of

and 2. A piston rod- 48 is slidabl'e in each of the cylinders 46'and is attached to a piston head within the cylinder. The piston rods 48 are secured at their outer ends to a pressure plate 49and are additionally guided by a rod 50 extend ng through the bracket The pressure plate 49 is normally urged to retracted position by the spring 51 surrounding the guide rod 50 and held by the nut and washer 52. Upon the admission of air pressure through the pipe line 40', the piston in the cylinders 46 will be actuated to force the pressure plate 49 into engagement with the left-hand side of the tractor link. This will force the right-hand side of the tractor link into engagement with an anvil member 53 of cylindrical shape which is loosely held in a sphericalbearing seat- 54 by the springs 55. The member 53 may angularly move to correctly line up with the right-hand face of the tractor link, and the member 53 will surround the bearing; opening in the tractor link knuckle against which itis pressed. 7

The spherical bearing seat 54 is formed in a longitudinal U shaped housing 56 which is supported by the extension frame 57. The bottom of the U-sha-ped member 56 is open to permit the broaching tool. hereinafter to be described, to dropupon passing through the tractor link. After the pressure plate 49 has been actuated, the fluid pressure will build up in line 41 and cause the operation of theneX-t step. i

. Immediately above the lower supporting I ed in a-fmanner similar to the table '10, a

bracket 59'fastened by bolts 60 which. engage alower fastening plate 61. The bracket 59 supports a vertical cylinder'62 which serves to guide a piston 63 having a piston head 64. The pipe line 41 is connected to the upper end of the cylinder 62 whereby fluid pressure will be admitted to the upper end of the cylinder and force the piston in a downward direction. A piston rod 65 extends out of the cylinder 62 and engages a pivoted bracing member 66, having-fastened to one end a curved head 67'. Themember 66pivots about the pin 68 which: is held by bracket 69 to the supporting rods 58. Themember direction by the res'ilient spring-7O 'fastened torthe bracket 71. The downward movement of the p ston andxpistom rod will force the member; 66 to turn in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 68, and thus force the head 67 into engagement with the upper face of the tractor link 17." Thus the link will be held against movement in an upward direction.

Upon completion of this step, the pressure is built up in the line 42 controlled by the reducing valve 45 and the final holding operat-ion'will take'place. Line 42 is connected to one end of a cylinder 72, in which there is slidable a piston 73 normally held in position at the left-l1and end of the cylinder 72 by a spring 74. Secured to the piston 73 and extending out of the cylinder 72 to a slot 75 is a rack member 76 which engages a gear toothed sector 77 connected to operate a valve 1 8. The valve 7 8 is connected to the fluid supply line 24 and to the outlet pipe 79 and also has an exhaust pipe-80 connected thereto. When the apparatus is idle, the line 79 is under pressure, but upon the actuation of the valve 78 by the movement of piston 73, line 79 will be opened to exhaust through the exhaust pipe 80. The last member 89 is therefore normally held in released posltion by the air pressure and, upon operation of the valve 78, the exhaust of the air pressure allows the member to be moved only by the force of suitable springs, thus preventing a deforming of the casting by excessive pressure. i

The pipe line 7 9 extends to the lower end of a cylinder 81 held in an inclined position by the bracket 82, and as illustrated in Figure 3. A piston is mounted within the cylinder 81, normallyheld in an upward position, and has fastened thereto slldable plate 83 through wh ch extend guide "ods S-l attached at their lower ends to the clevis plate 85. The rods 84 are guided by a fixed frame member 86 having suitable guide openings formed therein. Portions of the guide openings are enlarged to receive the springs 87 surrounding the rods 84, and which press at their lower ends against the clevis plate 85.

Thus, upon the release of the fluid pressure imparted to the cylinder 81, the springs 8'? will be allowed to force the plate in a downward direction. Attached to the clevis plate 85 by a pin 88 is a wedge member 89,

shown substantially in cross section in Figure 5. The wedge 89 engages a pair of lugs 90 which are mounted to extend between the knuckles of the tractor links which are to be operated upon. The lugs 90 are mounted to be simultaneously forced into engagement with the inner surfaces of the knuckles. Each of the lugs 90 is formed with a semicircular end 92 whereby there will be no interference with the passage of the broaching toolthrough the knuckle bearings.

It will be apparent that since the holding operations are successively carried out due to the adjustment of the reducing valves, that 65 there will beno deforming of the link. The

tractor link will be finally held in a rigidposition in readiness to have the broaching operation performed.

This application is not concerned with the actual operation of broaching but there is shown in Figure 1, the end 98 of a hydraulic plunger which forces a broach 93 through the bearingopenings of the tractor link. When the broach passes entirely through the knuckles'of the tractor link and through the anvil 53, it drops out of the bottom of the U shaped housing56.

Many modifications and changes may be resorted to in developing an apparatus to 1 carry out particular operations, and it will be understood that the invention is not re stricted to apparatus for holding tractor links but could be adapted to holding other pieces upon which similar operations may be carried out.

I claim: I

1. In a fixture for holding tractor link castings, a base member, positioning lugs for one end of a link upstanding from said base member, an operating member, and means automatically actuated by the operation of said member for'rigidly bracing the top and sides of said link.

2. In a ligature for holding tractor link castings, a base member, positioning lugs for one end of a link upstanding from said base member, an operating member, and means automatically actuated by the operation of said member for securely bracing the top and sides of said link and the inner surfaces of the link knuckles at the end of the casting opposite to that positioned by said lugs.

3. In a fixture for holding tractor link castings, positioning lugs upstanding from said base member and having coaxial openings extending therethrough, said lugs being adapted to receive the knuckles at one end of a link to be operated upon, means for insertinga locating pin through said lugs and said knuckles, a positioning member mounted to engage one side of said link, a second positioning member mounted for lateral movement into engagement with the opposite side of said link, means for actuating said second member, a third positioning member mounted for movement. into engagement with the top of said link, and means for actuating said third positioning member.

l. In a fixture for holding tractor link castings, positioning lugs u istanding" from said base member and having coaxial openings extending therethrough, said lugs being adapted to receive the knuckles at one end of a link to beoperated upon, means for inserting a locating pin through said lugs and said knuckles, a positioning member mounted to engage one side of said link, a second positioning member mounted for lateral move ment into engagement with the opposite side of said link, means for actuating said second member, a third positioning member mounted for movement into engagement with the top of said link, and means for actuating said third positioning member, a common operating member, and connections for actuating all of said means upon the movement of said operating member.

In a fixture for holding tractor link castings, a base member, positioning lugs upstanding from said base member and having coaxial openings extending therethrough, said lugs being arranged to receive therebetween knuckles at one end of a link, a side bracing member associated with said base member and mounted for swiveling movement, a rocking member pivotally mounted in association with said base member and 'arranged to form a seat for the knuckles of the link at theend to be operated upon, a locat ing pin, means for moving said pin through said positioning lugs and the knuckles of the link held therebetween, a side bracing member mounted for lateral movement into engagement with the link, means for. operating said side bracing member, a top bracing member mounted for movement into engagement with the top of the link casting to force said link into engagement with said rocking member, means for operating said top member, lugs associated with said base member and movable into engagement with the inner surfaces of the knuckles to be operated upon, and means for actuating said movable lugs.

operated upon, a base member upon which said casting is placed, means for centering one end of said casting, means for bracing the sidesof said casting, means for bracing the top of said casting, a common operating member, and means for successively causing the actuation of all of said means upon operation of said common operating member.

7. In a fixture for holding castings including bearings to be finished, a base member, positioning lugs upstanding from said base member for locating one end of said casting, a side member swivelly associated with said base member and arranged to engage one: side of said casting, a rocking support in said base member to serve as a mounting for the bottom 01:" said casting, a side bracing member mounted to be laterally moved into engagement with the side of said casting and force said casting into engagement with said swiveled member, a top bracing member mounted for movement into engagement with the top of said casting to force said. casting into engagement with said bottom rocking support, means for operating said side bracing member, means for operating said top bracing membenand means forsuccessively causing the operation of said two last mentioned means.

8. In a fixture for holding tractor link 6. In a fixture for holding castings to be.

castings, a base member upon which a tractor link casting may be placed, a plurality of fixed lugs having co-axial openings therein and a centering pin for insertion through said lugs and through the knuckles at one end of said tractor link whereby said tractor link is held in position for being worked upon.

9. In a fixture tor holding tractor link castings, a base member upon which a tractor link casting may be placed, a plurality of positioning lugs having co-axial openings therein, said lugs comprising two pairs of lugs, each pair of lugs being adapted to receive; therebetween a knuckle at one end of said tractor link and a centering pin adapted to be inserted through said positioning lug and through the knuckles at one end of said tractor link to hold the tractor link in position to be worked upon. 7

10. In a fixture for holding tractor link castings, a base member upon whicha tractor link casting may be placed, a longitudinally movable centering pin for insertionthrough the knuckles at one end of said tractor link casting to hold saidtractor link inposition to be worked upon and flu d pressure actuated meansfor moving said pin.

11.111 a fixture for holding tractor link castings, a base member upon which a tractor link casting may be placed, a locating pin .7

adapted to be inserted through the knuckles at one end of said tractor link, a bracing member adapted to be brought to bear upon the top o1 said link and fluid pressure actuated means for successively caus ng the movement of said locating pin and said bracing member.

12. In a fixture for holding tractor link castings, a base member uponwhich a tractor link casting. may be placed, alocating pin adapted to be inserted through the knuckles at one end of said tractor link casting, a bracing member adapted to be brought to bear upon the top of said tractorlink, an additional bracing. member adapted to be brought to bear against one side of said. tractor link and fluid. pressure actuating means for successively producing the movement of said locating pin and said bracing members.

13. In a fixture for holding tractor link castings, a basememb'er upon which a tractor link casting may be placed, an operating member and means automatically operated by the operation of said member for securely bracing the top and sides of said link and the inner surfaces of the linkv knuckles at the end of the casting to be worked upon.

14. In a fixture for holding tractor link castings, a base member upon which a tractor link casting may be placed, a side bracing member associated with said base member and mounted for swiveling movement, a rocking member pivotally mounted in association with said base member and arranged to form a seat for the knuckles of the link at the end to be operated upon, a side bracing member mounted for lateral movement into engagement with the link, means for operating said side bracing member, a top bracing member mounted for movement into engagement with the top of the link casting to force said link into engagement with said rocking member and means for operating said top bracing member.

15. In a fixture for holding tractor link castings, a base member upon which a tractor link casting may be placed, a pair of members adapted to be laterally moved into engagement with the inner surfaces of the knuckles at the end of the link to be worked upon and wedging means adapted to be forced between said members to produce the lateral separating movement thereof.

Signed at Chicago Heights, Illinois, this 6th day of August, 1929. EDWIN F. LONGENBACK. 

